Make printing named ranges easier

1. Since I am just creating a named range, I always look under the
   Menu-Format column. Under the Format column, I don't find ranges
   as expected. All I find is something called "print ranges". So I
   figure Star calls it's ranges "print ranges". Strange so I
   try all the options: 1) define, 2) add, 3) remove, 4) edit.
   None of these generate an option to name the range. Finally
   I check other menu options, and find Menu-Insert-Names-define.

   Whew, mutter, mutter, mutter. Ok, finally found expected option
   to either name a range by address or by selecting areas of the
   spreadsheet. Create my name and click ok.

2. My navigation steps to create a Range Name
   1-- Menu|Format|Print Ranges|define
   2-- Menu|Format|Print Ranges |Add
   3-- Menu|Format|Print Ranges|Edit
   4-- Menu|Format|Print Ranges|remove
   5-- Menu|Insert|Names|Define
   6-- Name range
   7-- click ok


3. My navigation steps to print range
   1-- Menu|file|print
       Opps, where is the option to print a named range? There is
All/Pages/Selection but no option to select named range or to select an unmamed
range.
   2-- Find the range name selection drop down exactly where expected, to the
       left of the edit line.
   3-- select desired range name
   4-- Go to Menu|Page Preview to see what will be printing.
       Opps shows entire sheet and NOT named range. Now what????
   5-- Go and ask around for help. Come back much later and change
       definition of range to Print range.
   6-- Return to Menu|Page Preview. What??? still shows entire sheet.
       What gives. Embarassed to ask again how to print this selection.
   7-- Go to Menu|Print, weird selection is grayed out, so try printing
       all.
   8-- Darn, printed page is whole page and not named range.
   9-- Deselect named range
  10-- Select area I want to print
  11-- Menu|Print|selection
  12-- Finally got desired printout. Assume print ranges function is broken
       in scalc. Mutter, mutter, mutter.


>
> Navigating between different print ranges to be printed
> is also possible at the moment. Just open 'Format'=>'Print Ranges' => 'Edit'
> and select the appropriate print range you previously defined.
>
> If this handling doesn't seem to be 'user friendly' for our customers, I'd
> like to ask you for a proposal for an improved UI in this case. A reference
> application showing us a better UI would also be of some value for us.







The navigation method I am familar with is Lotus 1-2-3,v9.

A. Steps to create range name:
   1. Menu|Range|Name|
   2. enter name and either cell reference or selected range, and ok.

B. Steps to print range
  1. Use range navigator to left of edit line and select desired range name.
  2. Either Menu|Print or Cntl-P. Default is print entire sheet.
  3. Click on Selected range which is already defined, and click ok.


C. Step to adjust print output
   Click on one of the printing icons before printing to format
   printed range. Available toolbar icons are:

   1. page orientation, portrait
   2. page orientation, landscape
   3. fit all data on page
   4. fit all columns on printed page, automatically determines number of pages
needed
   5. fit all rows on printed page, automatically determines number of pages needed
   6. insert horizontal page break
   7. insert vertical page break
   8. set columns as print titles
   9. set rows as print titles
   10. center vertically on page
   11. center horizontally on page
   12. center both vertically and horizontally on page


The icons I use all the time are Portrait/Landscape/ all cols on page/ all on
one page.


Some users do not like the inability of Lotus to have non-continuous named
ranges. But I have not heard of any user feedback about any other problems with
the Lotus method.


To summarize, once used to print methods.

StarOffice to name a range: 3 steps. New users forget to define as print range.
StarOffice to print a range: ?? steps.  No known method to get range of A1:j200
on a page so all columns are on the pages, except trail and errow.

Lotus to name a range: 2 steps.
Lotus to print a range: 3 steps.
Lotus additional steps to fit all columns on a page: 1 step, click on icon.


What is needed:
 1. default to define all new ranges as print ranges without selecting more
    but with user option to deselect as print range.
 2. A simplier process for printing selected range/print range.
 3. an one step method for users to adjust:
    a) print range as landscape with columns not spanning printed page, or
    b) print range as portrait with columns not spanning printed page and
       number of pages expanded as needed.
 4. I would also love to have a printing icon set where with one click I could
    adjust the print output without going thru the menus.





I can give you access to Lotus if you wish to see how they handled printing.

You may have futher questions. If so, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you.